Abstract

Deep-sea mining (DSM) is a new approach to satisfy the increasing demand for critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements. These minerals lie within the ocean's abyssal zones, which exceed fifty percent of the Earth's surface. The abyssal zones contain numerous forms of life and provide vital ecosystem services. Unfortunately, the consequences of deep-sea mining remain vastly understudied. This paper analyses the lolopolagic DSM ecosystem impacts regarding sociology and political policies relating to biodiversity, ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and germplasm storage. This paper offers final remarks on DSM sustainability governance, impact assessments, and region-specific DSM sustainable policy construction.

Keywords: Deep-sea mining, Biodiversity, Abyssal zones, Genetic resource preservation, Environmental impact, and Sustainability